The United States is the first country to come to mind when people consider studying abroad, and it is for a reason. Studying in the USA brings many privileges, such as receiving top-quality education, mastering the English language, having better career opportunities after graduation, embracing cultural diversity, and more.
It is home to the world’s best universities and colleges like Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and many more, which makes it incredibly advantageous for international students to build communication with the most experienced professors, talented students, and firms. However, healthy communication requires an expert-level command of English; that is, international students must prove their proficiency in English to be admitted to a university in the USA.
The most common method to prove English language proficiency when entering universities in the USA is taking the TOEFL exam. Read more to learn about the best universities in the USA accepting TOEFL scores for international students.
TOEFL Scores Accepted at U.S. Universities
TOEFL iBT is recognized nationwide in the USA, yet the minimum score requirements can differ by university, degree of study, or study program. Below are the seven universities in the USA that accept TOEFL iBT scores.
1. Princeton University
Ranked 1st in the national university and among the world university rankings, Princeton University remains one of the world’s most prestigious higher education institutions. Its faculty members are Nobel Prize-awarded, and the university has advanced research centers. It stands out for its engineering and architecture departments.
Just as Princeton offers excellent opportunities to its international students, the university is highly selective when accepting prospective students. The minimum TOEFL iBT score varies depending on the type or degree of program, yet the average total score starts at 90 and goes up to 108 or more. For more details, please check Princeton’s program catalog for undergraduate and graduate programs.
2. University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is one of the world’s most innovative and long-established research universities. Its motto is, “Let knowledge grow from more to more; so be human life enriched.” The institution provides excellent and continuous opportunities for international students in computer science, mathematics, psychology, biology, and more.
UChicago is highly competitive and has high expectations from its students. International students are charged $67,446 per academic year, and there are several scholarship opportunities. While it’s not required, applicants can also prove their English proficiency by taking a TOEFL iBT exam to successfully complete their application to any program at the university.
Although requirements can differ depending on the type or degree of program, an average minimum TOEFL iBT score requirement is stated to be 104 for all types of degrees.
3. Cornell University
Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is one of the best universities in the USA, with an acceptance rate of 9%. Each of its undergraduate faculty is regulated autonomously, yet all graduates receive a diploma from Cornell. One of its highly recognized faculty is Cornell’s Business School. Its annual undergraduate tuition fee is estimated to be $68,380, with plenty of scholarship opportunities.
This institution has strict requirements when accepting international students, and English proficiency is one of them. To be accepted as a student at Cornell, international applicants must prove their English proficiency with a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 100 for most undergraduate study programs. However, the higher you get, the more likely you are to increase your chances for acceptance.
TOEFL iBT score requirements may differ for certain study degrees or programs, so it is essential to check the program-specific requirements in Cornell’s program catalog before applying.
4. Columbia University
With two primary campuses in Columbia, Missouri, and Manhattan, New York, Columbia University is recognized worldwide for its innovative approach to education. Because of this, the institution has the third most prominent international student population among the universities in the USA. Moreover, it has many respected faculties and programs, including pharmacology, history, engineering, computer sciences, and many others.
An average annual tuition fee with student grant opportunities is $71,170. Furthermore, whether applicants submit with other standardized test scores, they still must prove their English language proficiency through their English proficiency examinations. Columbia requires international students to obtain a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 100 to 105, depending on the type or degree of program.
5. University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame is one of the oldest established private universities in the U.S., operating since 1842 with several faculties and institutions. Some popular programs at Notre Dame University are economics, finance, accounting, and political sciences. The average tuition fee for undergraduate and graduate programs in the 2024-2025 school year is about $65,025, yet the university offers many financial aid opportunities.
International students must prove their advanced level of English if their first language is not English or if their secondary education was not conducted mainly in English. They need to submit their TOEFL iBT exam score with a minimum of 80 to 100, depending on the degree or type of course they wish to apply.
6. Duke University
Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is a private research university that accepts thousands of international students every year. It has been pioneering innovation and research with programs in computer science, biology, political science, and more for decades.
Duke University requires international applicants to obtain a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 100 for undergraduate and 90 for graduate applications. Additionally, Duke charges $33,163 from international students in most of its programs with several scholarship options. Thus, we advise you to check the university’s program catalog for undergraduate and graduate applications.
7. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a well-known and respected private research university that has been operating since 1880. With 47,000 students in the 2023–2024 school year, it is among California’s top five public and private higher education institutions. Moreover, USC is also prestigious for its business school and other departments, such as social sciences, journalism, and arts.
USC is highly selective yet generous in providing financial aid to its students. On average, the annual tuition fee is $69,904, but about 80% of students benefit from financial assistance. To be a student at the university, international applicants must obtain a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 100 for undergraduate and Ph.D. programs and 90 for master’s programs.
FAQs: TOEFL Acceptance in the U.S.
What Type of TOEFL Exam is Accepted in the U.S.?
TOEFL iBT is the most common English language proficiency examination recognized by almost every American university, and it is accessible and trusted. It is an internet-based language exam assessing the participant’s reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in English for academic purposes, that is, in the U.S. classroom environment. Additionally, applicants can choose the Home Edition option if they have the necessary equipment to take the test at home.
Today, you can take the test from anywhere worldwide because test centers are located and established in almost every country. International students with a high TOEFL iBT score can easily stand out among others for their admission to U.S. universities as they prove their advanced language skills to complete the academic tasks in their study program.
Taking an English language proficiency exam is one of the crucial requirements for international students to be accepted at U.S. universities, and obtaining a high TOEFL iBT score will have enormous advantages to make your application stand out among others. So, it is time to study for the TOEFL exam and start your application to the best colleges in the USA.
We hope this article about the best U.S. universities accepting TOEFL iBT scores has been informative. Feel free to visit our Study in the USA Page and Open Courses for more information about the different universities and program opportunities in the United States!
